Stem cell factor receptor-(c-kit)-specific monoclonal antibody A3C6E2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to a human stem cell factor (SCF) receptor. The invention further relates to hybridoma cells that produce such an antibody, and to a method for generating such hybridoma cells.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Hybridoma A3C6E2 (DSM 2247). 
     
     
       2. A monoclonal antibody produced by hybridoma A3C6E2 (DSM 2247). 
     
     
       3. A monoclonal antibody according to claim 2 linked to a detectable marker. 
     
     
       4. A monoclonal antibody according to claim 2 linked to a therapeutic reagent. 
     
     
       5. A composition comprising a monoclonal antibody according to claim 2 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
       6. A composition comprising a monoclonal antibody according to claim 3 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
       7. A composition comprising a monoclonal antibody according to claim 4 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
       8. A method of detecting stem cell factor receptors, comprising the steps of (a) incubating a cell sample with a monoclonal antibody according to claim 2 under conditions which permit the binding of the antibody to the stem cell factor receptor; and   (b) detecting antibody which is bound to stem cell factor receptors.   
     
     
       9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the cell sample comprises normal cells, leukemia cells, or lymphoma cells. 
     
     
       10. A method of detecting stem cell factor receptors, comprising the steps of (a) incubating a cell sample with a monoclonal antibody according to claim 3 under conditions which permit the binding of the antibody to the stem cell factor receptor; and   (b) detecting antibody which is bound to stem cell factor receptors.   
     
     
       11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the cell sample comprises normal cells, leukemia cells, or lymphoma cells. 
     
     
       12. A method of isolating cells expressing the stem cell factor receptor, comprising the steps of (a) incubating a cell suspension with a monoclonal antibody according to claim 2 under conditions which permit the binding of the antibody to the stem cell factor receptor; and   (b) separating cells bound to the antibody from those which are not bound to the antibody.   
     
     
       13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the cells are separated by column chromatography. 
     
     
       14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the cells are separated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). 
     
     
       15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the cells are separated by immunoadsorption. 
     
     
       16. A method of transducing cells expressing stem cell factor receptor with a heterologous gene, comprising the steps of (a) isolating cells according to the method of claim 12; and   (b) introducing a heterologous gene into said cells by means of a retroviral vector comprising the gene.   
     
     
       17. A method of separating normal cells from leukemic cells based upon differential expression of stem cell factor receptor, comprising the steps of (a) incubating a suspension comprising normal and leukemic cells with a monoclonal antibody according to claim 2 under conditions which permit the binding of the antibody to the stem cell factor receptor;   (b) detecting antibody which is bound to stem cell factor receptors on said cells; and   (c) separating cells to which a greater amount of the antibody is bound from cells to which a lesser amount of the antibody is bound.   
     
     
       18. A method of inhibiting hematopoiesis, comprising the step of contacting an antibody according to claim 2 with hematopoietic cells expressing stem cell factor receptor. 
     
     
       19. A method of inhibiting hematopoiesis, comprising the step of contacting an antibody according to claim 4 with hematopoietic cells expressing stem cell factor receptor. 
     
     
       20. A method of treating a patient suffering from a tumor, comprising the step of administering an antibody according to claim 2 to the patient in an amount effective to inhibit the growth or differentiation of the tumor cells. 
     
     
       21. A method of treating a patient suffering from a tumor, comprising the step of administering an antibody according to claim 4 to the patient in an amount effective to inhibit the growth or differentiation of the tumor cells. 
     
     
       22. A method for modifying the sensitivity of patients to cell cycle-specific chemotherapeutic agents, comprising the step of administering an antibody according to claim 2 to the patient in an amount effective to inhibit the growth and differentiation of cells within said patient which express stem cell factor receptor.